Injuries to the mouth, face and teeth are common in children. Remaining calm and taking swift action will help minimize the damaging effects of the injury and lessen your child's discomfort. If your child has hit his/her head and lost consciousness – even for a brief moment – take them to the emergency room immediately.

Broken Tooth

Gently clean the injured tooth to remove any debris. Place a cold compress on the face in the area of the broken tooth to minimize lip or facial swelling. If you can see bleeding coming from inside the tooth, please call the dentist immediately.

Knocked Out Tooth

Permanent Teeth: Find the tooth! Do not grab the tooth by the root. If the tooth has debris, gently rinse it with water. Try to replace the tooth into the socket. Have the child hold the tooth in place by closing on a gauze or washcloth. If it is not possible to replace the tooth, place the tooth in a cup of milk or saline water and take your child to see the dentist immediately. It is preferable to see the child within 30 minutes of the incident.

Primary (Baby) Teeth: Do NOT place the baby tooth back inside the socket because of the risk of damaging the permanent tooth underneath. Take your child to the dentist for a follow up. If you are concerned about esthetics, a "Pedo Partial" can be used to replace the missing baby teeth.

Toothaches

Toothaches are caused either by a large cavity approaching the nerve of the tooth or from a fracture in the tooth itself. Along with a toothache, there may be swelling in the gums adjacent to the tooth as a result of an abscess formation. This type of dental infection can be treated briefly with several approaches. The first is to make sure the area is maintained clean by meticulous tooth brushing and flossing. A warm saltwater rinse 2-3 times per day can be used to treat the infection. Oral analgesics, such as ibuprofen (e.g. Advil®) or acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol®) can also be used to relieve the discomfort. If your child is under the age of 4, however, check with a physician before administering any oral analgesics for dental pain. Do not give Aspirin to your child for a toothache. Topical anesthetics, e.g. Orajel® or Anbesol®, have limited use in treating a dental infection and toothache. These remedies are only temporary solutions to relieve the dental pain. Schedule your child as soon as possible to see the dentist.

Bitten Tongue, Lip, or Cheek

A bitten tongue, lip or cheek can occur after a dental procedure where local anesthesia is used. The child may inadvertently bite him/herself because of the lack of sensation in the area. The area may become swollen, ulcerated, and have a grayish or greenish appearance; this, however, usually lasts only a few days. To help the healing process, maintain adequate oral hygiene by brushing your child's teeth at least twice per day and flossing daily. In addition, use a warm salt-water rinse 2-3 times per day and apply a topical anesthetic, e.g. Orajel® or Anbesol® to the affected area. A cold compress may also be used to help with the swelling.

Cold or Canker Sores

Cold sores are common in children and adults. The cause for them is unknown; however, it is widely believed that they arise from stress or anxiety. Although uncomfortable, they usually last only 7-10 days. To help with the discomfort, we recommend using a warm salt-water rinse to keep the area clean and if needed, a topical anesthetic, e.g. Orajel® or Anbesol® can be applied to the affected area.

Emergency Coverage

If you are experiencing a dental emergency during normal business hours, please call us at 1-844-30-4KIDS (5437) and one of our team members will help accommodate you into the schedule. If the emergency occurs after-hours, please go to Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital located at: 1005 Joe DiMaggio Drive, Hollywood, FL 33021 for prompt assistance. Please note that our offices do not have an after hours call service center.